Article mounting means



April 28, 1964 P. e. GILL 3,130,851

ARTICLE MOUNTING MEANS Filed Aug. 21, 1962 \NVI' FIGZ 117/7 4 FIG3 INVENTOR. PAUL G. GILL United States Patent 3,130,851 ARTICLE MOUNTTNG MEANS Paul G. Gill, Christian Ave., Stony Brook, Long Island, N.Y. Filed Aug. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 218,378 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-12) This invention relates to article mounting means and more particularly to such means comprising a cork base for mounting articles.

The present invention provides a cork base for mounting articles which have a predetermined thickness and shape, for instance, horizontal mounting of ashtrays, trophies and vertical wall mounting for clocks, thermometers, barometers and equivalent articles.

More particularly, the present invention provides a hollowed out cork base which is hollowed out to fit the article with a gripping fit. The article is inserted in the cork base by finger pressure and the resilience of the cork material is such that it will firmly grip the article to be mounted. This resilient feature of the cork also insulates the article from vibration and shock force. The resilience of the cork is such that even with finger pres sure it is impossible to dislodge the articles from the hollowed cork base without damaging the cork. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a finger hole at the center bottom of the base in order that a finger may be inserted for the purpose of pushing out the article.

One of the worlds oldest known natural commodities, cork has been in use by mariners for fish floats, rods, and buoys since long before the rise of the Greek and Roman civilizations. Though the principal source of the worlds cork supply is Portugal, it is also grown in Spain and North African countries that border the Mediterranean. Cork is the bark of the cork oak, a tree that can reach immense proportions in growth. The cork is farmed in scientifically controlled orchards much the same way as are modern agricultural programs for grains and fruits.

The bark of the cork oak is harvested at optimum time intervals to insure that the most economical cork yield is attained. The cork bark is processed into flat sheets and then converted via planing operations into cork plank. The bark that does not meet quality standards for natural cork products is further processed into composition by-products for industrial insulation applications and other uses. Among the many fine qualities that cork is endowed with are its light weight, imperviousness to liquids and gases, compressibility and high friction coefficient, poor conductivity of heat, electricity and sound, absorbing vibrations, resistance to flame and resistance to the destructive action of weather. Because of the excellent qualities inherent in the cork that have been recognized by the undersigned, considerable study and experimentation has been undertaken to invent new and useful modern product applications for cork. The design of a self-sealing cork ashtray container is one of the products invented. This consists of a cork ashtray base with an aperture that serves as a receptacle for a metal, ceramic, glass etc. ashtray insert, which remains inserted in the cork base with slight pressure requiring no other attaching device. At the bottom of the cork ashtray base is a fingerhole for inserting a finger or other device, to gently press the ashtray insert for its removal from the cork base. Because of the corks high friction coefficent, the ashtray insert remains seated in the cork until removed by pressing in the fingerhole. Because of the corks insulation ability to absorb vibrations, the ashtray insert enjoys a high degree of shock protection against damage due to accidental dropping. Because of the corks imperviousness to liquids, stains and the like may be removed by washing the cork base in the same manner as cleaning cooking utensils. Because of the corks resistance to flame, it aflords a high degree of protection against cigarette fires on wooden and other flammable table tops. And due to the corks high degree of resistance to the elements of weather, the cork ashtray can be used out of doors with negligible ill-effect to its attractiveness. The self-sealing and fingerhole release principles have also been applied to invent cork bases for clocks, barometers, thermometers, hydrometers and cigarette lighters. All the excellent inherent qualities that benefit corks use for ashtrays also apply to each of these products. A rather significant quality of the cork especially applicable to sensitive instruments is that it provides an excellent insulation against heat, sound, and shock. The fine qualities of cork construction can also be applied to many other instruments and devices not enumerated.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved article mounting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved anti-vibration article mounting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved cork base mounting means for articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved cork base mounting means for articles, said base having a fingerhole for ejecting the article.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings of which FIG. 1 is a plan view of the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the invention designed for Vertical wall mounting of articles.

Referring to the figures, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the mounting for an ashtray. The ashtray is a shallow dish 1 having a lower peripheral rim 2 and an upper peripheral rim 3. The cork base 4 is hollowed out to fit the dish 1 with a gripping fit when the dish is depressed into the mounting with finger pressure. The resilience, dimensions and fit of the cork base is such that the article 1 is gripped around its periphery with a rather tight grip so that in order to eject the article, for instance, for cleaning or washing, a finger hole 5 is provided in the bottom of the base 4. Another advantage of the cork base is that it may be washed without damage.

FIG. 3 shows another modification which comprises a cork base 4' which is hollowed out to lit a clock 6. The cork base has a mounting ring 7 which is secured to the base 4' by means of the threaded shaft 8 and nut 9 which is secured in a recess in the inner surface of the cork mounting base. This modification permits vertical wall mounting of articles which are substantially flat such as clocks, thermometers, barometers, wall plaques and equivalent articles. The cork mounting base insulates these delicate instruments from vibrations and other shocks which might affect or damage the instruments.

The process of manufacturing products from cork is similar to that followed for other products made from wood. The significant diilerences in processing cork lies in the speed of and the design of the cutting tools.

In order to avoid binding, tearing and shredding the cork in the cutting process, the speed of drill and saw blades must be predetermined to an optimum rate of cutting rotation. At this predetermined cutting speed, the cork will cut freely and smoothly.

In order to cut out the cork base to insert ashtrays and instruments, special cutting drills are used. These special drills literally scrape the hole out of the cork 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of in base for the ashtrays or instruments. Again, the speed of the cutting drill and itsspecial cutting blades determine the quality of the hole cut. The speed must be predetermined to an optimum rotation speed to insure a fine quality cut.

FIGURES 1 and 2 also illustrate the cutting tool for cutting with the cork material. The cutting tool comprises a blade 10 on a shaft 111, the blade having beveled edges 12, 13, and 14. The blade is preferably Welded to the shaft.

The shaft is rotated preferably with a motor drive with suflicient pressure to make a smooth gradual cut. The cutting tolerance is proportional to the shortness of the shaft length, the shorter the length the better tolerance obtainable.

I claim:

Ashtray means comprising:

a dish having upper and lower peripheral rims,

a cork holder hollowed out to fit said upper and lower rims with a gripping fit, said dish being completely enclosed in said holder and a finger hole in the base of said holder for the purpose of ejecting said dish from said holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 890,066 Kern June 9, 1908 2,118,326 Richardson May 24, 1938 2,589,967 Sawyer Mar. 18, 1953 2,591,374 Place Apr. 1, 1953 

